Almost 10,000 tickets have already been sold for the World Club Challenge between Bradford Bulls and Australian premiers Newcastle Knights at Huddersfield, on Friday, February 1.

Almost 10,000 tickets have already been sold for the World Club Challenge between Bradford Bulls and Australian premiers Newcastle Knights at Huddersfield, on Friday, February 1.

The amount of money that television companies will pay for club football has peaked, a senior executive of sports marketing giants Kirch has claimed. Richard Dorfman predicted the huge sums previously paid for television deals would now level off or even fall where club football is concerned, but claimed the World Cup and international football would not be affected.

CHESTER Jets have completed the signing of 6ft 1in guard Mike Redd in time for him to play in tonight's BBL Championship game against Edinburgh Rocks.

JOE Calzaghe, 28, has been forced to pull out of the 10th defence of his WBL super-middleweight title against American veteran Charles Brewer at Cardiff's National Ice Rink on February 9 due to flu.

Rugby League

GREAT Britain full-back Paul Wellens has agreed a new three-year contract with St Helens, tying him to the Super League club until the end of 2004.

BRITISH No.2 Greg Rusedski is on course to win his 11th career title after powering his way into the final of New Zealand's Heineken Open. Rusedski recovered from a set down to beat big-serving Czech Jiri Novak in a third set tie-break, and will face Frenchman Jerome Golmard, who eased past Switzerland's Michel Kratochvil 6-2, 6-2, in the other semi-final.

KENNY Perry and Chris Riley both shot five-under-par 65s to gain a share of the lead after the first round of the PGA Tour's Sony Open in Honolulu.

Rugby Union

ENGLAND scrum-half Austin Healey will be available to play against Scotland at Murrayfield next month despite being found guilty of kicking an opponent during Leicester's match against Sale at Welford Road last month, an offence which usually carries a six-week suspension.

AUSTRALIAN duo James McLean and Stephen Leaney share the lead at seven-under-par after the second round of the New Zealand Open. McLean followed up his opening round 65 with a 70 while Leaney shot a 67, equalling the best round of the day. World No.1 Tiger Woods shot a disappointing 73, narrowly surviving the cut at one one-over-par.

Rugby League

PENRITH Panthers have signed winger Andrew Frew, who scored 21 tries in 29 matches for Huddersfield last season. Frew began his career with Parramatta and also played for Manly and Northern Eagles before moving to Super League for the 2000 season.

BRITISH showjumping has received a welcome boost with David McPherson, formerly an international rider for South Africa, switching allegiance to Great Britain.

Motor sport

MIKA Salo believes Toyota team-mate Allan McNish is the right man to help guide the Formula One newcomers through their first season. Salo is confident he and the 32-year-old Scottish rookie are the proper pairing as the Japanese car giant attempts to make an immediate impact on the grid.

IPSWICH chairman David Sheepshanks has called for Scottish and Irish clubs to be allowed to enter the Worthington Cup, and for English football to introduce a two-week winter break.